Crypto Mining in China
Reviewed by Francesco Zinghinì · Updated June 2026
China Mining Environment
Before the 2021 ban, China hosted over 65% of global Bitcoin hashrate, primarily due to cheap hydroelectric power (Sichuan, Yunnan) in wet season (~$0.03–0.04/kWh) and coal power in dry season (Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, ~$0.04–0.06/kWh). The ban caused a massive global hashrate relocation. Some illegal mining continues, particularly in autonomous regions with looser enforcement, but carries significant legal and confiscation risk.
Electricity: Pre-ban hydroelectric (Sichuan wet season): ~$0.03–0.04/kWh. Coal (Xinjiang): ~$0.04–0.06/kWh. Mining is now illegal regardless of electricity rate.
Legal status: Crypto mining was banned by Chinese authorities in May 2021 and reiterated in September 2021. Operating a mining facility in China is illegal and subject to prosecution. However, underground mining continues in some regions.
Notable operations: No legitimate operations; historical: Bitmain, BTC.com, F2Pool (pools operate from outside China).
Coin Profitability in China at $0.07/kWh
Best-in-class hardware for each coin, ranked by estimated daily profit. Based on current price and network difficulty, updated in real time.
| Coin | Algorithm | Best Hardware | Daily Profit | Monthly | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zcash (ZEC) | Equihash | Bitmain Antminer Z15 Pro · 2650 W | +$56.99 | +$1,710 | Profitable |
| Kaspa (KAS) | kHeavyHash | Bitmain Antminer KS7 · 3300 W | +$11.68 | +$350 | Profitable |
| Dogecoin (DOGE) | Scrypt (AuxPoW) | Bitmain Antminer L9 · 3360 W | +$9.77 | +$293 | Profitable |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | SHA-256 | Bitmain Antminer S21 XP Hyd · 5676 W | +$6.30 | +$189 | Profitable |
| Bitcoin Cash (BCH) | SHA-256 | Bitmain Antminer S21 XP Hyd · 5676 W | +$1.11 | +$33 | Marginal |
| Monero (XMR) | RandomX | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 · 280 W | +$0.21 | +$6 | Marginal |
| Ethereum Classic (ETC) | Etchash | AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT · 120 W | −$0.16 | −$5 | Break-even |
| Ravencoin (RVN) | KAWPOW | AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT · 150 W | −$0.22 | −$7 | Break-even |
| Alephium (ALPH) | Blake3 | AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT · 140 W | −$0.24 | −$7 | Break-even |
| Litecoin (LTC) | Scrypt | Bitmain Antminer L9 · 3360 W | −$3.70 | −$111 | Unprofitable |
Estimates use China's average rate of $0.07/kWh. Enter your exact rate in the live calculator for personalised figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cryptocurrencies are most profitable to mine in China in 2026?
At China's average electricity rate of $0.07/kWh, 6 of 10 supported coins are currently profitable with their best-in-class hardware: Zcash, Kaspa, Dogecoin, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Monero. The top performer is Zcash (ZEC), earning an estimated $56.99/day on a Bitmain Antminer Z15 Pro. Rankings shift with coin price and network difficulty — use the live calculator for your exact setup.
What is the electricity rate for crypto mining in China?
Pre-ban hydroelectric (Sichuan wet season): ~$0.03–0.04/kWh. Coal (Xinjiang): ~$0.04–0.06/kWh. Mining is now illegal regardless of electricity rate. This rate is moderate by global standards — efficient hardware is required for profitability.
Is crypto mining legal in China?
Crypto mining was banned by Chinese authorities in May 2021 and reiterated in September 2021. Operating a mining facility in China is illegal and subject to prosecution. However, underground mining continues in some regions.
What is the best mining hardware to use in China?
It depends on the coin. For the most profitable option right now — Zcash — the standout unit is the Bitmain Antminer Z15 Pro (840 kSol/s, 2650 W) at an estimated $56.99/day. The table above lists the best hardware for each of the 10 supported coins at China's electricity rate.
How does China's electricity rate compare globally for mining?
At $0.07/kWh, China's rate is below the global average for mining operations — competitive enough for efficient ASIC miners to be profitable at current coin prices. For comparison: Ethiopia ~$0.02/kWh, Paraguay ~$0.03/kWh, Kazakhstan ~$0.04/kWh, USA (industrial) ~$0.04–0.07/kWh, Germany ~$0.32/kWh.
Mining in Other Countries
Enter your exact electricity rate — not just the country average — for accurate profitability across all 10 coins.